Monday, October 5, 2015

The First Reviews for HARROWED Are Killer!

So, HARROWED has been out in the wild for a little over week now, and we are starting to see some reviews come in. Our small town slasher story has now been reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon, and folks have had some really wonderful things to say about it.

As a writer, you learn not to get too high or low when it comes to reviews--heck, some writers don't even read them. There will always be people who like your story, and those who don't. When I read reviews, I'm looking for signs of whether or not I accomplished what I set out to do, and where I can get better if I didn't.

Without quoting the reviews directly (you can read them at the above links if you'd like), there are some real bright spots in people's reactions so far. Here are my top three:

1. The Harvester feels like a slasher. This was extremely important to Jolene and I. The Woodsview Murders series is our love letter to the slasher genre of horror films. We wanted to create a character that felt iconic. So far, it seems like we succeeded

2. The story keeps people guessing. The identity of the Harvester and the killer's motivations are a satisfying mystery. In the feedback we're getting from readers, there have been a variety of theories about the identity of the killer, which is great.

3. Woodsview, Massachusetts is a living, breathing place. We are consistently hearing that our setting captures the feel of a small town, which is great to hear, as it is populated with people and places that Jolene and I grew up with. The diner, the record store, the school--they all exist. Oh, and there is a real Woodsview, too. Perhaps someday we'll reveal its true location...

I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to write a review of our book so far. Thoughtful reviews are tremendously helpful. As we continue to work on book two of the Woodsview Murders, it's great to know what aspects of the first book are resonating with people.